After a two-month process, Middletown mayor and council unanimously approved legislation that would put certain limitations on mobile vendors in town.

The only question raised during Monday night's monthly council meeting came from Councilman Jim Reynolds, who asked if the same rules in the ordinance would apply to ice cream trucks.

"There's nothing to stop ice cream trucks from parking in front of Brusters," he said.

Reynolds and Mayor Ken Branner agreed that they would address this issue down the road if it becomes a problem to local ice cream businesses or concession stands at the Silver Lake Park.

The mobile vendor ordinance was introduced to council last month after being drafted and presented during a public forum in October.

Keith Young, who owns Young's BBQ in Middletown, said that mobile food vendors are unfair competition for small restaurants.

In Dec. 2011, mayor and council approved Clint Johnson's request to operate a BBQ food trailer on the corner of Wood and West Main Streets in town, which Young claimed has taken about 20 percent of his business.

Johnson usually only operates in Middletown once a week and owns a shop in Smyrna.

Young originally addressed council with these concerns in January.

The ordinance, which only amends the town's zoning code, requires mobile vendors operating within town limits to go before the town and request a conditional use permit – after receiving written permission of the property owner who's land they would be setting up shop on.

The new rules apply to any type of vendor, whether they are selling food, clothing or jewelry.

The law does not limit the number of mobile vendors or prevent any from operating in town, and it will also not revoke any permits that have already been granted.